In October 2008, it is alleged that Schouppe sold a packet of Dexia shares. According to leaks from the investigation, the sale took place shortly after the minister had taken part in a meeting of some of the bank’s largest – and most disgruntled – shareholders. Schouppe was close to the centre of the government’s handling of the banking crisis as a result of his understanding of complex financial dossiers.

In May 2009, Schouppe sold KBC shares just before it was announced the bank would be the subject of a rescue operation by the government.

Flanders’ busiest train station

Arriving by train, you are immediately confronted with pile of rubble number one, Project Gent-Sint-Pieters. For the total makeover of the train station, millions of euros of transportation and station development were released in 2004. The major project, originally to be finished by 2014, has now been given a 2018 expected completion date, apparently due to complications with Belgian railway infrastructure manager Infrabel.